Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Productivity

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps he has taken to improve productivity.

Margot James: The Government has made significant progress on delivering the policy recommendations in the 2015 Productivity Plan. In addition to the £23 billion announced at Autumn Statement for the new National Productivity Investment Fund, the government’s forthcoming Industrial Strategy will focus on raising productivity to increase living standards for people across the UK.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Papua

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has received reports of restrictions by the Indonesian government on access to West Papua for international non-governmental organisations and media.

Alok Sharma: We are not aware of any changes in restrictions on access to West Papua. During a visit in 2015, President Joko Widodo announced the lifting of travel restrictions for foreign journalists and international organisations. Since then, a number of foreign journalists have successfully visited and reported from Papua and West Papua. British Embassy staff have visited the province on a number of occasions, most recently in August, and we continue to follow the situation with close interest.

Islam: Religious Freedom

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government is providing to (a) Iraq, (b) Afghanistan and (c) Nigeria to ensure the protection of minority Shi'a Muslims in those countries.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: IraqThe only way of safeguarding minority communities in Iraq is by defeating Daesh and establishing a lasting peace. The UK Government is committed to this. We have a comprehensive strategy for defeating Daesh and continue to support the Government of Iraq in its efforts to build a more inclusive society. Since June 2014, the UK has committed £169.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the crisis in Iraq. This includes access to clean water, food, medicines and other life-saving assistance for the most vulnerable. All UK funded aid is distributed on the basis of need, irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity to ensure that civilians are not discriminated against. We prioritise reaching the most vulnerable people across Iraq, including Shia Muslims and others who have suffered from such violence.NigeriaIt is important that all Nigerians enjoy the right to freedom of religious belief and assembly, and that the security forces act within the law. UK military training and assistance to the Armed Forces of Nigeria has consistently emphasised the importance of adherence to internationally recognised Rules of Engagement, as well as the importance of International Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. We continue to work with the Nigerian Government, NGOs and civil society to improve the security situation and human rights for all the people of Nigeria.AfghanistanThe UK is working closely with the Afghan Government as it seeks to overcome the legacy of conflict and become a more prosperous and stable state for all Afghans without discrimination. We currently have 450 military personnel in Afghanistan serving in a non-combat role, advising and assisting the Afghanistan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) as part of the NATO Resolute Mission. In addition to military support, we recently pledged £750m in development aid at the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan for the period 2017-2020, this is expected to deliver improved health systems, boost education opportunities and assist with steps to tackle corruption.

Human Rights

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure that the UK remains a leader in promoting human rights after the UK has left the EU.

Alok Sharma: The United Kingdom is a strong and long-standing advocate of universal human rights based on our values and our respect for international law and the rules-based international system. Through our strong international diplomatic presence we are influential members of the main institutions in which human rights issues are handled, as is evidenced by our recent re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Our diplomatic network works to defend human rights globally. We dedicate significant programme funds to support human rights projects, including through our Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy. This strong global engagement on human rights will be unchanged by the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.

South China Sea

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterparts on the security situation in the South China Sea.

Alok Sharma: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Boris Johnson), most recently discussed the security situation in the South China Sea with his US counterpart at a G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting in September. A joint statement at this meeting underlined G7 opposition to unilateral actions that raise tensions in the South China Sea, and urged all parties to comply with their obligations under international law and refrain from such actions. The UK has a clear interest in regional peace and stability and respect for freedom of navigation and overflight.

Asia: Politics and Government

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to support the US administration in promoting regional security in (a) the South China Sea and (b) other parts of Asia.

Alok Sharma: We continue to work closely with the US in promoting regional security across Asia. In line with our Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 commitments to the Asia Pacific region more broadly, we are active with a range of like-minded security partners in the region. For example, in November 2016 Exercise Eastern Vortex saw the Royal Air Force participate in a military exercise with Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand; in joint exercises with Japan; and in a trilateral exercise with the US and the Republic of Korea.

Department for Education

Grammar Schools: Admissions

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 2 November 2016 to Question 48790, how many children in Year 7 whose ethnic backgrounds were (a) white British, (b) white British eligible for free school meals, (c) white non-British, (d) white non-British eligible for free school meals, (e) black, (f) black eligible for free school meals, (g) Indian, (h) Indian eligible for free school meals, (i) Chinese, (j) Chinese eligible for free school meals, (k) Bangladeshi, (l) Bangladeshi eligible for free school meals, (m) Pakistani, (n) Pakistani eligible for free school meals, (o) other Asian, (p) other Asian eligible for free school meals, (q) any other ethnicity and (r) any other ethnicity eligible for free school meals received a place in a grammar school in each of the last five years; and what the total number was of Year 7 pupils and the total number was of Year 7 pupils eligible for free school meals in each of those ethnic groups in each of those years.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils were in (a) selective and (b) non-selective state schools in Year 7 in each of the last five years; and what proportion of those were (i) boys, (ii) boys eligible for free school meals, (iii) girls and (iv) girls eligible for free school meals.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 2 November 2016 to Question 48789, how many and what proportion of boys in Year 7 whose ethnic backgrounds were (a) white British, (b) white British eligible for free school meals, (c) white non-British, (d) white non-British eligible for free school meals, (e) black, (f) black eligible for free school meals, (g) Indian, (h) Indian eligible for free school meals, (i) Chinese, (j) Chinese eligible for free school meals, (k) Bangladeshi, (l) Bangladeshi eligible for free school meals, (m) Pakistani, (n) Pakistani eligible for free school meals, (o) other Asian, (p) other Asian eligible for free school meals, (q) any other ethnicity and (r) any other ethnicity eligible for free school meals received a place in a grammar school in each of the last five years; and what the total number was of Year 7 male pupils and the total number was of Year 7 male pupils eligible for free school meals in each of those ethnic groups in each of those years.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 2 November 2016 to Question 48788, how many and what proportion of girls in Year 7 whose ethnic backgrounds were (a) white British, (b) white British eligible for free school meals, (c) white non-British, (d) white non-British eligible for free school meals, (e) black, (f) black eligible for free school meals, (g) Indian, (h) Indian eligible for free school meals, (i) Chinese, (j) Chinese eligible for free school meals, (k) Bangladeshi, (l) Bangladeshi eligible for free school meals, (m) Pakistani, (n) Pakistani eligible for free school meals, (o) other Asian, (p) other Asian eligible for free school meals, (q) any other ethnicity and (r) any other ethnicity eligible for free school meals received a place in a grammar school in each of the last five years; and what the total number was of Year 7 female pupils and the total number was of Year 7 female pupils eligible for free school meals in each of those ethnic groups in each of those years.

Nick Gibb: The requested data can be found in the attachment.



Attachment
(Excel SpreadSheet, 39 KB)

Schools: Costs

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the average cost to the public purse of opening a new (a) maintained nursery, (b) primary and (c) secondary school.

Nick Gibb: New school places are delivered through a variety of programmes across England and supporting local authorities to create sufficient school places is one of this Government’s top priorities. The Government has already committed £7 billion for school places, which along with our investment in 500 new free schools we expect to deliver 600,000 new places by 2021.The cost of building schools varies significantly depending on local factors, including: the size of the school; the size of the project; forecasts of construction inflation; and regional variations in the cost of construction. All of these are subject to change over time.Local authorities report the cost per place of providing new school places through the annual School Capacity data collection. The Department is currently reviewing cost data as reported by local authorities for both primary and secondary schools for 2014/15 and expects to publish this information in due course.Previously published information on the cost per place of primary schools in academic year 2013/14 can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/primary-school-places-local-authority-basic-need-scorecards-2014.

Secondary Education: Admissions

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate her Department has made of the average capital cost of a new secondary school place (a) in and (b) outside London.

Nick Gibb: New school places are delivered through a variety of programmes across England and supporting local authorities to create sufficient school places is one of the Government’s top priorities. The Government has already committed £7 billion for school places, which along with our investment in 500 new free schools we expect to deliver 600,000 new places by 2021.The cost of building new places varies significantly depending on local factors including: the size of the project; forecasts of construction inflation; and regional variations in the cost of construction. All of these are subject to change over time.Local authorities report the cost per place of providing new school places through the annual School Capacity data collection. The Department is currently reviewing cost data for secondary schools for 2014/15 and expects to publish this information in due course.

Grammar Schools

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what external research and evidence, other than the Sutton Trust's report, Evidence on the effects of selective educational systems, published in October 2008, she has used to formulate her policy on grammar schools; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department has reviewed a wide range of external research and evidence on grammar schools, including research on the impact of selection on the educational attainment of disadvantaged pupils. We are still currently consulting on new proposals regarding selection in education and the Government’s policy will be informed by this consultation. All the evidence considered in preparing the consultation document, Schools that work for everyone, is referenced and available publicly. Existing evidence is based on the current grammar school system. We are proposing significant changes to the requirements placed on selective schools to ensure that they raise standards for all pupils as part of a diverse schools system. Our proposals are aimed at delivering a schools system that works for all children and offers parents genuine choice by increasing the number of good and outstanding school places.

Special Educational Needs: Newham

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that Newham Borough Council is fully funded to implement the Government's educational reforms on provision for children and young people with special needs; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: To ensure that local authorities were fully funded to implement the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) reforms, the Government provided them with a £70million SEND Reform Grant in 2014-15, aimed at helping them to prepare for their new statutory duties. Newham Borough Council’s share of this grant amounted to £693,476. Through the ‘SEND Implementation Grant’, additional implementation funding of £45.2million was provided in 2014-15; £31.7million was provided in 2015-16 and £35.8million was provided in 2016-17. Newham Borough Council’s shares of these allocations were £350,763 in 2014-15; £255,814 in 2015-16 and £291,459 in 2016-17. In addition to direct implementation funding for local authorities, the Government has provided: £45million between 2014-15 and 2016-17 for Independent Supporters to help parents and young people through the process of education, health and care assessment and planning;£5million for local authorities to increase opportunities for work experience and supported internships in 2015-16;£6.75million between 2014-15 and 2016-17 to provide grant support for every Parent Carer Forum in England;funding for a network of nine lead authorities in 2015-16 and 2016-17 to coordinate peer support; andfunding for a delivery consortium of voluntary and community sector organisations providing specialist advice and support to local authorities and their partners. The Government has also committed to funding the SEND Implementation Grant, Independent Supporters and Parent Carer Forums for 2017-2018.

Summer Schools

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what financial assistance is available from the public purse to secondary schools seeking to run a summer school programme for disadvantaged pupils.

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what financial support her Department plans to offer secondary schools which provide summer school programmes for pupils transitioning from primary school to secondary school for September 2017.

Edward Timpson: The Department is not providing separate financial support to secondary schools for summer schools programmes, but schools can draw on their wider budgets to fund such provision.Schools can prioritise support for disadvantaged pupils making the transition from primary to secondary school, including summer school programmes, through use of their pupil premium funding.

Ministry of Defence

Veterans: Radiation Exposure

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department has given to the children of nuclear test veterans who have suffered congenital deformities and unidentified illnesses as a result of their fathers being stationed on Christmas Island during nuclear tests in the 1950s.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has seen no published peer-reviewed evidence of excess illness or mortality among nuclear test veterans or their offspring as a group that could be linked to their participation in the UK's atmospheric nuclear tests or to exposure to radiation as a result of that participation. Formal and well-documented procedures were in place to ensure the health and safety of those participating in the tests.Any veteran who believes they have suffered ill health due to service has the right to apply for no-fault compensation under the War Pensions Scheme. War Pensions are payable in respect of illness or injury as a result of service in the Armed Forces before 6 April 2005, with the benefit of reasonable doubt always given to the claimant. Decisions are medically certified and follow consideration of available service and medical evidence and carry full rights of appeal to an independent Tribunal.The provision of healthcare to nuclear test veterans and their children is primarily the responsibility of the National Health Service, who work in close partnership with the MOD and Service charities to ensure that veterans get the best possible care. The MOD is determined to ensure that veterans who require help are provided with appropriate support including through the Veterans UK helpline and the Veterans Welfare Service which can be contacted on Freephone: 0808 1914 2 18On 11 November 2016 the MOD announced a consortium of charities led by The Royal British Legion had been selected to provide the Veteran's Gateway. The Veterans Gateway programme, funded by a £2 million Covenant Fund grant, will provide a one-stop service to better support the veterans' community and help in accessing public, private and charitable services in the UK. It will provide a 24/7 telephone number, dedicated website and mobile app to make it easier for veterans to access support on issues including housing, employability and health. It will be formally launched in the first half of 2017.

Army Foundation College

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what procedure is available to (a) recruits and (b) parents of recruits for reporting allegations of sexual abuse or inappropriate sexual relationships at the Army Foundation College, Harrogate; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: In line with Ministry of Defence direction, the Army Foundation College (AFC), Harrogate has an extensive Supervisory Care and Safeguarding Directive in place, and a Code of Conduct for recruits is issued and explained to recruits within the first two days of training. This outlines procedures on how to report any form of harassment. On enlistment recruits are also issued a booklet explaining the AFC complaints procedure, including contact details for external agencies.Recruits wishing to report any allegations of sexual abuse or inappropriate sexual relationships can seek initial advice from their Company or College Equality and Diversity Advisors. All allegations are thoroughly investigated. All serious incidents are reported and managed through established procedures involving welfare officers, the police and external agencies as required.Parents are also provided with details of the welfare team, military permanent staff and Duty Chaplain at the AFC Reception Day. All recruits and parents have the freedom to inform civilian police of any concerns.

Army Foundation College: Vetting

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of staff at the Army Foundation College, Harrogate had up-to-date Disclosure and Barring Service checks prior to arriving in post at that college in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: All posts at Army Foundation College (AFC), Harrogate require Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.Any military personnel arriving on site without clearance are either returned to their previous unit or are subject to a supervisory plan to ensure they are not left unsupervised with recruits. Data is not held prior to April 2014. Between April and December 2014, 12% of Permanent Staff arrived without DBS clearance. In 2015, it was 13% and in 2016 5% arrived without clearance.All current Ministry of Defence Civil Servants at AFC have DBS clearance. In 2014 68% of all posts required DBS checks. The requirement is now 100%.Any contract staff at AFC awaiting DBS clearance will also be escorted.

Home Office

Police: Cameras

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made on the rollout of body-worn cameras to police officers for the collection of evidence.

Brandon Lewis: The decision to procure and deploy body worn video (BWV) cameras is an operational one for chief officers. The Home Office is aware that most forces in England and Wales use BWV to some extent. Each force will have its own implementation plan and schedule for the rollout of cameras. This information is not held centrally.

Social Networking: Criminal Investigation

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with social media companies on improving their cooperation with police investigations.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Secretary engages regularly with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that our law enforcement agencies are able to undertake effectively their core function of protecting the public. As more and more communications take place online, this of course includes providers of telecommunications services such as social media companies.

Hate Crime: Disability

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to tackle the recorded increase in disability hate crime in the last year.

Sarah Newton: The Government takes all forms of hate crime seriously. Crime that is motivated by hostility towards some fundamental part of a person’s identity is particularly corrosive and can have devastating consequences for victims and their families. We are committed to working with communities in order to keep them safe.The number of recorded disability hate crimes rose by 44% between 2014/15 and 2015/16. There are a number of factors behind this rise, including increased reporting of disability hate crime and improved recording of such crimes by the police. We welcome these changes.The new cross-Government Hate Crime Action Plan published on 26 July includes specific actions on disability hate crime. These include looking at current best practice in tackling disability hate crime and working with partner organisations and the police to promote safety for disabled people, making better use of third party reporting centres and raising awareness of hate crime among carers and families of disabled people to encourage reporting.

Asylum

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications in which the applicant reported being tortured in their home country were (a) received and (b) rejected in each year since 2009-10; how many such rejections were appealed; and how many such appeals were found in favour of the appellant in each of those years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: I am sorry but the data requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost by examination of individual records.

Asylum

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps regularly to monitor her Department's asylum caseworkers' compliance with the January 2014 Asylum Policy Instruction.

Mr Robert Goodwill: To ensure that all asylum decisions are sustainable and made in accordance with legislative and policy frameworks , we have a robust quality assurance process in place involving technical specialists embedded within every team, Senior Caseworkers for each unit and an internal quality audit unit. We are also audited by the Office of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration.

Visas

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applicants who have been refused a settlement visa have subsequently obtained a visitor's visa in each year since 2010.

Mr Robert Goodwill: I am sorry but the Home Office does not hold the specific information in the format requested. To obtain it would involve interrogating individual case records, at disproportionate cost.

Sexual Offences: Internet

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle the increase in sexual offences recorded by the police relating to dating apps; and if she will make a statement.

Sarah Newton: Rape and sexual violence are devastating crimes and the Government is committed to ensuring that every victim has access to the specialist support they need, and that everything is done to bring offenders to justice. We want every report of rape to be treated seriously from the point of disclosure, every victim to be treated with dignity and every investigation and every prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally to give victims the confidence to report these crimes, no matter what the circumstances or where they took place. The National Crime Agency has issued advice, in partnership with the voluntary sector, on keeping safe when dating online which makes it clear that responsibility for rape and sexual violence always unequivocally rests with the perpetrator of these crimes. This is to make people aware of the potential dangers, so they can be better prepared and make the choices that are right for them. Advice on personal safety when dating online is also available at https://www.getsafeonline.org/social-networking/online-dating/

Department for International Trade

Multinational Companies

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether his Department plans to respond formally to the findings and recommendations set out in Amnesty International's report, entitled Obstacle course: How the UK's National Contact Point handles human rights complaints under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, published on 19 February 2016.

Greg Hands: The Government has noted the content and recommendations contained in the 2016 Amnesty International report.The Government has no plans to provide a formal response. However, the National Contact Point (NCP) has discussed the report with Amnesty International and where appropriate, the report’s conclusions will be considered as part of the normal process for improving the operations of the NCP and the Steering Board.

Multinational Companies

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, who carries out external assessment of the work of the Steering Board of the UK National Contact Point set up further to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; when such an assessment will be undertaken; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of any internal review of the effectiveness of that Steering Board in terms of its (a) capacity to consult stakeholders and (b) ability to undertake comprehensive scrutiny.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans he has to consult key stakeholders before the terms of reference of the review of the work of the Steering Board of the UK National Contact Point, set up further to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, are agreed by relevant Ministers.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how the review into the work of the Steering Board of the UK National Contact Point set up further to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises will consider the effectiveness of the Steering Board's oversight role in monitoring and addressing how the UK National Contact Point handles allegations of corporate abuse and rights violations against UK companies.

Greg Hands: The UK Government recognises its commitments under the OECD Multi-National Enterprise Guidelines and maintaining a National Contact Point (NCP) which operates in line with international best practice. The NCP Steering Board contributes to this by oversight and monitoring of the effectiveness of the operation of the NCP, ensuring correct and fair procedures are followed in line with the established and published procedures for dealing with complaints. The Steering Board was established in 2007 and has provided high quality expert advice and support to the NCP. Nevertheless, the Government believes that it is appropriate to undertake a light touch review of the composition and functions of the Board in light of experience. The UK NCP is also scheduled to undergo a peer review by the OECD during the second half of 2018, which will consider the effectiveness of the NCP’s structure and procedures. Steering Board members, together with key stakeholder groups, including business and civil society, will be consulted as part of our review process. It is expected that the review will be completed in time to enable a new Steering Board to be appointed when the term of the current members expires in September 2017.

Department of Health

Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Bill

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what impact assessment his Department has undertaken on the potential effect of the Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Bill 2016 on small and medium enterprises.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Government has published the Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Bill. This can be accessed on the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-service-medical-supplies-costs The Government fully recognises the need to balance the interests of the National Health Service and patients in having medicines available on reasonable terms with the need to minimise burdens on small and medium sized companies. In relation to the proposed changes to the statutory scheme for branded medicines the Government has proposed an exemption from any new payment mechanism for companies with sales of branded health service medicines below £5 million in the previous calendar year. The Bill includes new information powers which would be exercised through regulations. Companies are already required to keep information on sales and income for six years for tax purposes and the Government will consult industry to consider whether the information regulations would create any additional burden on companies beyond this. Subject to the passage of the Bill through Parliament, the Government intends to undertake a public consultation on the regulations which will include a full impact assessment.

Breast Cancer: Drugs

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on (a) best practice and (b) other issues relating to the treatment of breast cancer by bisphosphonates; and if he will make a statement.

Nicola Blackwood: Whilst officials in the Department engage regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive, no conversations have specifically been had on bisphosphonates.

Down's Syndrome: Screening

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to make a formal announcement that the non-invasive pre-natal test for Down's syndrome will be made available for all eligible pregnant women in the UK; and from what date he plans to make that test available to all such women.

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the NHS of making the non-invasive pre-natal test for Down's syndrome available for all eligible pregnant women in the UK.

Mr Philip Dunne: On 29 October 2016 the Department announced the evaluative roll out of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes. NIPT will be introduced as an additional test into the NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme in England. The evaluative roll out will provide further information to ensure the full national implementation is optimised and safe. This will include, but not be limited to, test turnaround times, numbers of women accepting the offer of screening, impact on invasive procedures, and; information and training materials required.Public Health England (PHE), which leads National Health Service Screening Programmes in England, is currently working through the procurement and the evaluative roll out process for NIPT for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes, including the development of tender documents specification and criteria for tendering. The expectation is that laboratories will be contracted to provide NIPT for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes as part of the NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme as part of the evaluative roll out during financial year 2018-19.PHE is working through the procurement and the evaluative roll out process for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes. It is estimated that the test will cost £200-300 per test and PHE has estimated that approximately 10,000 tests will take place per year. The final additional cost or saving will depend on actual uptake rates (i.e. how many women take the test) and on the actual unit costs of tests which NHS England will need to agree with providers.

Down's Syndrome

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that health professionals have training on providing positive information and advice to pregnant women who are expecting a child with Down's syndrome.

Mr Philip Dunne: The NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme offers Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndrome screening to all pregnant women in England. A range of e-learning training materials, for healthcare professionals on fetal anomaly screening, are available on the GOV.UK website at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fetal-anomaly-screening-programme-overview#training On 29 October 2016 the Department announced the evaluative roll out of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes. NIPT will be introduced as an additional test into the NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme in England. Public Health England, who lead the NHS Screening Programmes, is working with a range of stakeholders including Antenatal Results and Choices, the Down’s Syndrome Association, Support Organisation for Trisomy 13/18 and the Down Syndrome Research Foundation to develop information and training materials for healthcare professionals and information for prospective parents in preparation for the roll out of NIPT as an additional option in the NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme in England.

Ambulance Services

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department takes to monitor the performance of NHS ambulance trusts.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Gwynne) on 7 December 2016 to Question 55662.

NHS: Sustainable Development

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many sustainability and transformation plan leads have requested changes in their governance mechanisms.

David Mowat: Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) are being developed by local organisations coming together to cooperate. Each footprint was asked to consider and manage its governance arrangements for agreeing and implementing its STP - this was set out in the STP Guidance Letter (February 2016). As local proposals develop and take shape, many areas have developed and iterated their governance structures.

NHS: Sustainable Development

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of the sustainability and transformation plan process.

David Mowat: The Department does not hold this information centrally. Sustainability and Transformation Plans have been supported by local programme teams which have been funded by the constituent local organisations.

NHS: Sustainable Development

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department plans to make available the full capital requirement set out in each sustainability and transformation plan.

David Mowat: Each Sustainability and Transformation Plan area is still working through the details of its capital requirements.

NHS: Sustainable Development

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to reject any sustainability and transformation plan proposing to reduce the number of qualified nurses.

David Mowat: Health and care leaders in every part of England have come together for the first time to plan around the overall needs of whole areas, not just individual organisations, and to find practical ways to deliver the Five Year Forward View. These are locally led plans.

Social Services: Pay

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Care Quality Commission makes an assessment of whether social care providers are compliant with the national living and minimum wages as part of its Market Oversight responsibilities to assess the sustainability of social care providers.

David Mowat: The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) Market Oversight function does not assess whether social care providers are compliant with the national living and minimum wages. Market Oversight’s purpose is to help local authorities to protect people using care services, and their families and carers, from the anxiety and distress that may be caused by the failure of a major care provider. By monitoring the performance and finances of the most significant social care providers in England, Care are required to notify local authorities if a provider is likely to experience business failure and that services will cease as a result. Local authorities can then ensure continuity of care for those affected. CQC’s role includes understanding providers’ financial and operational strategies to manage their businesses and to meet a range of external challenges, including but not limited to the impact of the national living wage and other cost and regulatory changes. CQC’s Market Oversight function typically monitors the 50 most significant providers that local authorities would find difficult to replace should they fail. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs have responsibility for investigating and enforcing compliance with the national minimum wage and the national living wage.

Children: Incontinence

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has had discussions with NHS England on auditing the effect of NHS England's Excellence in Continence Care guidance on the quality of paediatric continence services.

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how he plans to promote the commissioning of integrated paediatric continence services as a means of preventative healthcare in line with the aims of the Five Year Forward View.

David Mowat: The Department has had no formal discussions with NHS England on auditing the effect of its guidance Excellence in Continence Care on the quality of paediatric continence services. NHS England continues to promote extensively its guidance both through traditional and social media and through engagement with key stakeholders. The Department of Health, in conjunction with the Department for Education, has published links to the Paediatric Continence Commissioning Guide as part of its support for commissioners, providers and health professionals implementing the new system for Special Educational Need and Disability. Developed by the Paediatric Continence Forum and accredited by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence this provides a specification for paediatric continence services which puts integration at its heart.

Department of Health: Personnel Management

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people employed in human resources roles in his Department have (a) prior experience and (b) qualifications in human resources.

David Mowat: The numbers of people employed in human resources (HR) roles in the core Department who have prior HR experience are set out in the table below: Overall HR experienceNumberLess than 1 year5 or fewer1 to 10 years1310 to 20 years1820 to 40 years11 Of the above people, 22 individuals have formal qualifications in HR–related subjects.This number does not include those in the Department’s HR directorate who are currently working towards formal qualifications in HR-related subjects.

Alzheimer's Disease: Hormone Replacement Therapy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with (a) the Royal College of Nursing and (b) other Royal Colleges on the role of hormone replacement therapy in reducing the incidence of Alzheimer's Disease.

David Mowat: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had any formal discussions with the Royal College of Nursing and other Royal Colleges on the role of hormone replacement therapy in reducing the incidence of Alzheimer's Disease.

Statins

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with (a) the Royal College of Nursing and (b) other Royal Colleges on the role of statins in reducing the number of premature deaths caused by heart disease.

David Mowat: There have been no recent discussions between the Department and the Royal College of Nursing or other Royal Colleges on the role of statins in reducing the number of premature deaths caused by heart disease.